Patrick Gee/Los Angeles Dodgers

Patrick Gee/Los Angeles Dodgers

Colon closeupBy Jon Weisman

Here’s how close Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon came to catching Saturday’s seventh-inning line drive by Howie Kendrick that ultimately went through on one bounce to second baseman Daniel Murphy, who then tossed to shortstop Ruben Tejada ahead of an oncoming Chase Utley. (Click the photo above to enlarge.)

Reports today are the appeal of Utley’s suspension won’t be heard before Game 3 of the National League Division Series tonight, which would mean Utley will be in uniform when the Dodgers play at Citi Field.

[mlbvideo id=”521658783″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

In 21 career plate appearances against Mets Game 3 starter Matt Harvey, Utley is 6 for 18 with a double, a homer, one strikeout, and three times being hit by a pitch, including April 14 in New York. Here’s an excerpt from Anthony DiComo’s game story at MLB.com:

Earlier in the evening, Phillies starter David Buchanan had hit two Mets batters with pitches, knocking one of them out of the game. Harvey was called for a hit batsman shortly thereafter on a ball that appeared to miss grazing Freddy Galvis by centimeters. This time, he fired a first-pitch, 95-mph fastball into Utley’s back.

Asked about it after the game, Harvey admitted only to being “overamped” and letting one “get away.”

“That sounds about right,” Utley said. “Getting hit by a pitch is part of the game. It’s not the first time I’ve been hit by a pitch, and it won’t be the last.”

[mlbvideo id=”73700883″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]